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tones to melt and heal hardened hearts diffused on bicycles

Image by Wen Wen Lu

tones to melt and heal hardened hearts diffused on bicycles was commissioned by the Only Animal’s work with the Artist Brigade bringing art and artists to the climate crisis. For more information visit: Artist Brigade.

tones to melt and heal hardened hearts diffused on bicycles is an innovative, participatory art experience developed by Matthew Ariaratnam, a Vancouver-based interdisciplinary sound artist, composer, listener and guitarist. Created with tones imbued with wishes to heal the world from people of all walks of life, the 37-minute sonic composition will be diffused on speakers during a public bike ride on September 9, 2023.

Ariaratnam invited participants to follow a short meditative score, recording a tone as they emerged from their experience. This unique process resulted in a collection of vulnerable, playful and highly personal recordings that document intimate, embodied moments. The people behind the sounds hail from a wide range of music and sound communities and open the door for listeners to explore some rarely heard but delightful sonic niches. Highlights include Vancouver’s Kettle Society Choir, field recordings of Pacific Spirit Park, and a gathering of vocal and instrumental performances that trace Ariaratnam’s musical friendships between Montreal, Calgary, Gibsons, Vancouver, and Victoria.

Making of tones to melt and heal hardened hearts diffused on bicycles

Matthew Ariaratnam’s composition carefully weaves these individual moments in time into an experience of community, reminding listeners of everything we hold in common through our care for the environment, our grievable lives, and our shared wish for healing.

Project participant and Zheng-player, Vi-An beautifully captures the intent of this work: 

“During the meditation all I could feel were traumas coming from every corner of our world, with it, intertwined the vibrations of stars and all the unknown galaxies to equalize, inside me, allowing this tone to be generated as a form of harmonizing as we empathize, and sympathize with each other…

So much gratitude to be part of this kindness of acts.”

To sign up and/or learn more, go to https://www.healingtonesforeveryone.art/

For event info visit:: https://tinyurl.com/Healing-Tones

tones to melt and heal hardened hearts diffused on bicycles was commissioned by the Only Animal’s work with the Artist Brigade bringing art and artists to the climate crisis. For more information visit: Artist Brigade.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

DATE: August, 2023

VENUE: Unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations

WITH: Matthew Ariaratnam


Lead Artists and Facilitators

Matthew Ariaratnam

Tone Diffusers

Adrian Avendaño

Andromeda Monk

Ben Wylie

Nico Henderson

Healing Tone contributors

Vi-An Diep – Zheng, Carol Sawyer – voice, Joanna Hauser – clarinet, Harley Small – piano, Yvonne Chew – voice, Ariane Bell Vila – voice, Kettle Society Choir: (Michelle T, Yvonne Kato, Amy Lam, Adrienne Walsh, Dirk Baker, Carole Cote, Mark Gagnon, Chadelia, Damian Murphy – voice), Jesus Caballero – percussion, Spencer Schoening – electronics, Laura Fukumoto – field recordings, Wryly Anderson – ocarina, Alex Masse – Suzuki Q chord, George Allison – vibraphone, Jasper Wrinch – keyboards, Wen Wen Lu – brush and water, ink stick and ink stone, Brenda Leadlay – voice, Sophia Smith – saxophone, David Bergeon – electronics, Aneeq Kalson – voice, Wry Finkelstein – voice, Art Action Earwig (Minah Lee, Wrly Anderson, Tadafumi Tamura) – voice, James Meger – electronics, Rebecca Bruton – voice and guitar, Jessica Gabriel – voice, Chantal Gering – voice, Carolyn Nakagawa– trumpet, Andromeda Monk – synth, Lief Hall – voice, Hillary Tufford – voice, Amanda Sum – voice, Julie Lebel – voice, Leonie Roberts – voice, Alex Mah – voice, Margot Butler – accordion, Grace Ma – voice singing “Yuyeihua (The Rain-Night Flower)”, Raj Gill – gongs and percussion, Viviane Houle – voice, Anonymous – drums, Anonymous – voice, Alexis Castrogiovanni – voice, April O'Dwyer – input mixer, Linnea Gwiazda, Cory Thibert, Juniper Wren – voice and percussion, Ben Wylie – harmonica and field recording, Cathy Stubbington – voice, Tom Cryan – voice, Nina Corissa Ortiz – field recordings, Soressa Gardener - voice and laptop, Matthew Ariaratnam – piano, cello, guitar, gong

Videography

Jen Muranetz

With the Generous Support

Vancouver Foundation

City of Vancouver

Government of British Columbia